Hawaii Podcasts
Just as the legendary radio show ‘Hawaii Calls’ once reached out to the world, now podcasters are sending the music and talk of Hawaii around the world via the Internet
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HawaiiDiner.com, Jennings produces an online food magazine for active grinders. “It’s just one element of what I do,” she says, “and it’s an easy, natural fit.” She does interviews on location in restaurants or from her office, giving her partner, Eric, credit for the technical set-up.
“People like listening to the different chefs and what they’re like,” she says, noting that feedback has been great. “And I’m always surprised with who will talk with me - a lot of them don’t even know what a podcast is!”
Since hip ministers are calling their shows “Godcasts,” then Jennings could say hers is a “foodcast.”
The overwhelming success of Ryan and Jenn Ozawa’s
‘Lost’ podcasts forced them to find another topic
“It’s absolutely rewarding, finding ways to make noise out there in free speech,” says Ryan Ozawa, founder of the Hawaii Podcast Association. He recently retired his popular Lost-themed podcast, The Transmission, because it was too successful (as in 15,000 listeners, or downloads).
“It was overwhelming. We had way more listeners than I expected and too much feedback. We ran out of time, being pushed to do it every Wednesday night after the show,” says the banker, husband and father of three in Mililani. For The Transmission, Ozawa and wife Jenn would watch the show and simply take up their mikes and talk about it. “We didn’t sleep Wednesday nights,” he admits.
You can still hear him on HawaiiUP.com. “Mostly now I’m doing more of helping others get going, and getting them over the technical hiccups.”
Back in academia, Nickles finds the movement is definitely gaining steam. He also advises young podcasters at Punahou, which has a video podcast, and Roosevelt High School where the technique is being integrated into the curriculum. He says a Hawaii Marine Science podcast is in the works, thanks to a grant to undergraduate Chris Colgrove, and Leeward Community College will soon podcast two computer courses.
At UH-Hilo, Hawaiian language instructor Keola Donaghy coordinates the online courses, operates a Hawaiian music web-site at nahenahe.net and added a music podcast after an initial “experiment” drew 500 to 600 downloads. “I’m planning to use the podcast in my classes - on the history and development of Hawaiian music, Polynesian music too next fall.”
A recent podcast in Hawaiian also drew a “very positive” response, he says.
Besides the exposure for their work, listener feedback has sparked a creative surge in musicians like Wright from their association with doctortrey.com.
“The show has made me more creative,” admits Wright, “and my network with other musicians is expanding. It’s jolted me and Mailani to keep writing. We make dates to go write.” In fact, she, Makainai and Suan are developing a three-girl band, specifically created for the podcast.
“I love being here,” adds Wright, “and recording some songs for the podcast, specifically for our audience because they thought we should try something.”
Having a finite amount of space for printed words, MidWeek resorted to a podcast to continue this article. This reporter, however, concedes to the superior talk talent of Brown, Terada, Suan, Makainai and especially Wright on a rainy night last week in Kaneohe.
To listen in, check out doctortrey.com for the launch date.
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